Evelyn helped Maya stand up and wiped the cold tears from the child's cheek.
She wrapped her warm wool shawl around Maya's shaking shoulders to keep her warm.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed across the marble floor from behind the main curtain line.
Evelyn turned around and saw her younger brother Richard walking toward them quickly.
Richard Vance was a stern man who managed the entire family legal estate affairs.
He wore an expensive dark tuxedo and carried a thick leather folder under his arm.
His face turned dark and angry when he saw the wet girl standing there.
Richard: Evelyn, why are you kneeling on the floor with a dirty street street child?
Evelyn: Watch your tongue when you speak about this young girl, Richard.
Richard: Security should have removed this street orphan ten minutes ago!
Evelyn: This child is Sarah's daughter and my own biological granddaughter.
Richard: That is completely impossible, Sarah left this town years ago!
Evelyn: Look at this gold locket that Maya brought with her tonight.
Richard looked at the opened gold locket in Evelyn's hand and grew very pale.
His eyes darted nervously toward the hallway exit before he forced a calm smile.
Richard: Anyone could have stolen that old family trinket from a pawn shop.
Maya: My mother gave it to me in the city hospital before she died!
Richard: Be quiet, little girl, adults are talking here!
Evelyn: Do not ever raise your voice at my family again, Richard.
Richard: She is trying to claim our family inheritance without any real legal proof!
Evelyn: Why are you so terrified of a little child having our blood line?
Richard: I am simply protecting the family trust fund from opportunistic street beggars!
Evelyn noticed how Richard's hands were shaking as he gripped his heavy folder.
She had trusted Richard for fifteen years to handle all family financial documents.
He had always insisted that Sarah wanted nothing to do with her family home.
Now Evelyn began to suspect that Richard had been lying to her all along.
She stepped in front of Maya to shield the child from Richard's cruel gaze.
Evelyn: We will discuss the legal inheritance in front of my lawyer tomorrow morning.
Richard: You are letting emotional weakness cloud your business judgment, Evelyn!
Evelyn: My judgment has never been clearer than it is right this minute.
Richard turned on his heel and walked away briskly through the grand doorway.